Kovai shops roll down shutters by a sudden bandh called by the HM

COIMBATORE: The textile city was partially crippled on Friday by a sudden bandh called by the Hindu Munnani (HM) in the wake of the killing of its spokesman Sasikumar, sparking tension in urban and rural pockets near here as Hindu outfits demanded "justice" for the brutal murder. Nearly 95 per cent of the shops, hotels, commercial establishments shut down their operations for the day.

However, schools and colleges run by the government and private institutions functioned as usual. All nationalised banks functioned as usual, while employees of private banks stayed away from work. While essential services like hospitals and medical stores remained open, malls and cinema theaters closed their shutters. Transport services took a big part of the hit with autos, cabs and private buses off the roads.